Fluid Delivery System Comprising One or More Sensing Devices and Related Methods

ABSTRACT

Fluid delivery systems and related methods and computer program products for facilitating the timely identification and resolution of one or more problems or issues associated with one or more aspects of such fluid delivery systems are disclosed. In an aspect, the fluid delivery systems and related methods and computer program products of the present disclosure may include one or more sensing devices that may be configured to detect, measure, or sense one or more aspects of a given fluid delivery system in order to identify one or more problems or issues therewith. A user and/or computing device may then make one or more adjustments to the operation or functionality of a given fluid delivery system to help the fluid delivery system operate more efficiently and/or effectively, avoid or minimize fluid delivery system downtime, and/or avoid or minimize damage to one or more components of the fluid delivery system.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to fluid delivery systems andrelated methods and computer program products and more particularly tofluid delivery systems and related methods and computer program productsthat comprise at least one sensing device configured to detect at leastone aspect of such fluid delivery systems.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Fluids are used in a variety of applications for various purposes,including engine or system cooling, lubrication, as well as variousoilfield operations. In order to be utilized in such variousapplications, fluid delivery systems are needed to deliver the fluid(s)to appropriate locations at appropriate times and in appropriateconfigurations (e.g., appropriate flow rates, densities, compositions,volumes, pressures, temperatures, viscosities, etc.). For example, fluiddelivery systems are used in many types of oilfield operations thatfacilitate the extraction of hydrocarbons and natural gas fromunderground formations. One such oilfield operation is known ashydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing typically involves pumpingfluid(s) down a wellbore at pressures and/or flow rates that are capableof fracturing subterranean formations, thereby inducing the flow ofhydrocarbons from those formations.

Generally, hydraulic fracturing is used for unconventional subterraneanformations, where the significantly low permeability of the formationscauses hydrocarbons to become “trapped” in the rocks, thereby preventingthem from flowing freely into a wellbore. Common hydraulic fracturingtechniques involve utilizing at least one fluid delivery system to pumpone or more fluids down a wellbore at a pressure and/or flow rate thatis greater than the fracture gradient of the particular formation thatcontains the wellbore. Such fluid(s) may comprise one or more additivesreferred to as “proppant.” Proppant often comprises a sand-like texturedue to its particulate properties. The pumping process creates fracturesin the rocks of the formation that may be filled by the proppant so thatthe fractures are not immediately closed again due to the immensesubterranean geological pressures they experience. The proppant alsoprovides a highly permeable conduit within the fractures that allows thenewly released hydrocarbons to easily flow to the wellbore where theycan be recovered.

The process of hydraulic fracturing typically requires at least onefluid delivery system that includes a variety of different components.For example, several trucks and/or trailers are needed to carry freshwater, one or more chemicals or other fluids, proppant or otheradditives, at least one manifold (also known as a “missile”), and atleast one pumping mechanism. The water is mixed with the chemical(s),fluid(s), proppant, and/or other additives by a device known as ablender, thereby forming a mixture typically referred to as “slurry.”This slurry then gets pumped to the manifold, which typically comprisesa high-pressure side and a low-pressure side. Slurry is received by themanifold at one or more inlets on the low-pressure side. The slurry isthen redirected by the manifold to a pressurizing pumping mechanism, or“frac pump,” configured on a separate truck/trailer adjacent to themanifold. The frac pump significantly increases the pressure of theslurry and then directs it to the high-pressure side of the manifold.The manifold may then distribute the high-pressure slurry to the openingof a wellbore so that it may be used to propagate one or more fracturesdownhole.

During a hydraulic fracturing process (or any similar fluid deliveryprocess), it is not uncommon for one or more fluid delivery systemcomponents to experience one or more problems or issues or to failentirely. For example, the frac pump(s) generally experience asignificant amount of stress and wear that may cause them to breakdownor stop functioning completely. When equipment failure does occur, theentire fracturing process and, if relevant, drilling process must besuspended in order to manually inspect and/or test the manifold, eachfrac pump, as well as any other relevant fluid delivery systemcomponent(s), including any tubes, pipes, hoses, or lines thatinterconnect the different components of the system, in order toidentify the problem and determine a remedy. Depending on how long theinspection and/or testing process takes, a considerable amount of moneymay be lost due to the suspension of the oilfield operations at thewellbore.

A variety of events may initiate the failure of the various component(s)involved with any fluid delivery system, including those utilized withhydraulic fracturing. For example, head loss, or pressure loss, mayoccur within one or more sections of tubing or piping due to wear andtear caused by friction; cavitation may occur within one or more systemcomponents; flow rates may reach undesirable levels; one or more leaksmay develop that may need to be compensated for; and/or the volume ofproppant, chemicals, and/or other additives being mixed with water mayneed to be adjusted. If these events are not identified and addressed ina timely manner, they may cause damage to the affected systemcomponent(s) and require them to be repaired and/or replaced, therebyincreasing unwanted costs resulting from oilfield operation suspension.

Given the foregoing, fluid delivery systems, methods, and computerprogram products are needed that allow one or more problems or issueswithin one or more fluid delivery system components to be identified ina timely manner. Additionally, fluid delivery systems, methods, andcomputer program products are needed that allow a user to address and/orresolve one or more problems or issues within one or more fluid deliverysystem components in a timely manner are needed. Fluid delivery systems,methods, and computer program products that facilitate the mitigationand/or prevention of damage to one or more fluid delivery systemcomponents are also desired.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts. Theseconcepts are further described below in the Detailed Descriptionsection. This summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of this disclosure's subject matter, nor is thisSummary intended as an aid in determining the scope of the disclosedsubject matter.

Aspects of the present disclosure meet the above-identified needs byproviding fluid delivery systems, methods, and computer program productsthat facilitate the identification of and, if necessary, resolution ofone or more problems or issues within one or more fluid delivery systemcomponents in a timely manner. Specifically, in an aspect, fluiddelivery systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosedthat may comprise at least one sensing device that may be configured todetect at least one aspect of a given fluid delivery system, including,for example, at least one flow rate, at least one pressure measurement,at least one density measurement, at least one velocity measurement, atleast one temperature measurement, at least one viscosity measurement,at least one composition assessment, and/or at least one volumemeasurement for at least one fluid passing through at least one portionof at least one component of the system. The sensing device(s) may beconfigured at any appropriate location(s) within and/or upon one or moreportions of one or more components of a particular fluid delivery systemwhere they may be able to make adequate detections and/or measurements,including within and/or upon one or more sections of piping and/ortubing (including high and/or low-pressure piping and/or tubing), withinand/or upon one or more pumping mechanisms, within and/or upon one ormore portions of at least one manifold apparatus, and/or within and/orupon one or more portions of at least one blending apparatus.

In some aspects, the sensing device(s) used with the fluid deliverysystems, methods, and computer program products of the presentdisclosure may be communicatively coupled to one or more computingdevices. Such computing devices may be configured with variouscomputational instructions, or code, in the form of software or one ormore software applications that, when executed on at least one computerprocessor, causes the at least one computer processor to perform certainsteps or processes, including interpreting and/or analyzing detected,measured, or sensed data received from one or more sensing devicesassociated with a given fluid delivery system and/or presenting thedetected/measured/sensed data and/or analysis results to at least oneuser. In some additional aspects, the software or software applicationsmay facilitate the ability of one or more users to instruct thecomputing device(s), via one or more input devices, to make one or moreadjustments to one or more aspects of the fluid delivery systems of thepresent disclosure, including adjusting one or more flow rates,adjusting at least one internal pressure, adjusting at least onedensity, adjusting at least one velocity, adjusting at least onetemperature, adjusting at least one viscosity, adjusting at least onecomposition, and adjusting at least one internal volume of one or morefluids passing through at least one portion of at least one component ofa given fluid delivery system. In still some additional aspects, thesoftware and/or software applications may cause the computerprocessor(s) associated with the one or more computing devices toinitiate or make any necessary or desired adjustments to at least onefluid delivery process associated with at least one fluid deliverysystem in an at least semi-autonomous fashion, with only partial or nouser input. In such aspects, the software and/or software applicationsmay be programmed to maintain various aspects of the fluid deliverysystem at certain predetermined levels (e.g., maintain certain flowrates, maintain certain pressures, maintain certain densities, maintaincertain velocities, maintain certain temperatures, maintain certainviscosities, maintain certain compositions, and/or maintain certainvolumes of one or more fluids passing through at least one portion of atleast one component of a given fluid delivery system) by, for example,comparing detected aspects of the fluid delivery system with one or morepredetermined standards or values and determining whether the detectedaspects are within a tolerable deviation of the predeterminedstandard(s) or value(s).

Further features and advantages of the present disclosure, as well asthe structure and operation of various aspects of the presentdisclosure, are described in detail below with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present disclosure will become moreapparent from the Detailed Description set forth below when taken inconjunction with the drawings in which like reference numbers indicateidentical or functionally similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system for facilitating theidentification of and, if necessary, resolution of one or more problemsor issues associated with at least one fluid delivery system, accordingto an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2A-2B are block diagrams depicting two possible configurations ofa first exemplary fluid delivery system, according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an image depicting a second exemplary fluid delivery system,according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary manifold apparatus for usewith a fluid delivery system, according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an exemplary manifold apparatus for use with afluid delivery system, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for facilitatingthe ability of at least one user to manually receive at least onedetection of and make at least one adjustment to at least one aspect ofa fluid delivery system, according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for facilitatingthe ability of at least one user to use at least one computing device tomake at least one detection of and make at least one adjustment to atleast one aspect of a fluid delivery system, according to an aspect ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for facilitatingthe ability of at least one user to detect and make at least oneadjustment to at least one aspect of a fluid delivery system, accordingto an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for facilitatingthe ability of at least one computing device to detect and make at leastone adjustment to at least one aspect of a fluid delivery system,according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing system useful forimplementing one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to fluid delivery systems and relatedmethods and computer program products for facilitating the efficientdetection of and, if necessary, resolution of one or more problems orissues that may arise during operation of such fluid delivery systemsand/or one or more components thereof. Specifically, in an aspect, fluiddelivery systems and related methods and computer program products aredisclosed that may comprise one or more sensing devices, each of whichmay be configured to detect at least one aspect of a particular fluiddelivery system. The sensing device(s) may be further configured topresent detected data and/or other information to one or more users inorder to enable the user(s) to determine whether any adjustments need tobe made to the operation, functionality, and/or configuration of aparticular fluid delivery system. In some aspects, a user may utilizeone or more computing devices to view and/or make changes to one or moreaspects of a particular fluid delivery system. In some additionalaspects, one or more computing devices may be configured to detect oneor more aspects of a particular fluid delivery system, determine whetherany changes need to be made thereto, and initiate such changes in an atleast semi-autonomous manner.

The term “fluid delivery system” and/or the plural form of this term areused throughout herein to refer to any system, machine, apparatus,mechanism, or device that may function, at least partially, either byitself or in conjunction with one or more additional systems orcomponents, to transfer an amount of at least one fluid from at leastone fluid source to at least one fluid destination, such as manifolds,pressure pumps, transfer pumps, other pumping mechanisms, gravity feddistribution lines, tanks, vessels, blenders, other blendingapparatuses, suction valves, distribution valves, wells, irrigationsystems, pipes, tubes, hoses, and the like.

The term “additive” and/or the plural form of this term are usedthroughout herein to refer to any substance, particle, or element thatmay be added to one or more fluids to be used during the functioning oroperation of at least one fluid delivery system, such as proppant,chemicals, acids, sodium chloride, polyacrylamide, ethylene glycol,borate salts, sodium carbonates, potassium carbonates, glutaraldehyde,guar gum, citric acid, isopropanol, friction reducers, disinfectants,gelling agents, breakers, emulsifiers, stabilizers, surfactants,potassium chloride (KCl), iron control chemicals, oxygen scavengers,scale inhibitors, pH adjusting agents, carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar(CMHPG) gels, corrosion inhibitors, biocides, and the like.

The term “fluid” and/or the plural form of this term are used throughoutherein to refer to any liquid and/or gaseous substance(s) that may passthrough at least one portion of at least one fluid delivery system asdefined above, including one or more portions of one or more componentsthereof, such as water, oil, methanol, slickwater, gasoline, one or morepetroleum products, one or more chemicals, one or more gels, one or morecrosslinkers, saltwater, brine, one or more acids, produced water, dirtywater, liquefied natural gas (LNG), biofuel (or one or more productsthereof), pipeline quality natural gas (or any quality natural gas),propane, diesel fuel, fuel oil, and the like.

The term “manifold” and/or the plural form of this term are usedthroughout herein to refer to any device, mechanism, apparatus, orstructure comprised of one or more pipe, tube, and/or hose fittings andhaving one or more lateral outlets for connecting at least one pipe,tube, and/or hose with one or more additional pipes, tubes, and/orhoses, such as fracturing (or “frac”) manifolds, missiles, missiletrailers, exhaust manifolds, zipper manifolds, blender manifolds,transfer pumps, hydration manifolds, water vessel manifolds, and thelike.

The term “sensing device” and/or the plural form of this term are usedthroughout herein to refer to any device, apparatus, element, mechanism,or component that may be capable of sensing and/or detecting at leastone physical property, such as flow measuring devices (including flowmeters, magnetic flow meters, electromagnetic flow meters, turbine styleflow meters, and mass flow (i.e., Coriolis) flow meters); densitymeasuring devices (including densimeters); temperature measuring devices(including thermometers and temperature meters); viscosity measuringdevices (including viscometers and rheometers); pressure measuringdevices (including pressure transducers and pressure meters); velocitysensing devices (including flow velocity measuring devices andanemometers); volume measuring devices (including volume sensors);hydrometers; composition analyzing devices; and the like.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of an exemplary system 100 forfacilitating the identification of and, if necessary, resolution of oneor more problems or issues associated with at least one fluid deliverysystem 106, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown.

Cloud-based, Internet-enabled device communication system 100 mayinclude a plurality of users 102 (shown as users 102 a-g in FIG. 1)accessing, via a computing device 104 (shown as respective computingdevices 104 a-g in FIG. 1) and a network 132, such as the global, publicInternet—an application service provider's cloud-based, Internet-enabledinfrastructure 101. In some aspects, a user application may bedownloaded onto computing device 104 from an application download server136. Application download server 136 may be a public application storeservice or a private download service or link. Computing device 104 mayaccess application download server 136 via network 132. In anothernonlimiting embodiment, infrastructure 101 may be accessed via a websiteor web application. Multiple users 102 may, simultaneously or atdifferent times, access (via, for example, a user application)infrastructure 101 in order to engage in communication with other users102, fluid delivery system 106, and/or at least one control station 108or to access user database 126, fluid delivery system database 128,and/or control station database 130.

In some embodiments, a user 102 may communicate with a fluid deliverysystem 106 via computing device 104 in order to detect, view, identify,determine, and/or initiate the resolution of one or more problems orissues associated with one or more aspects of and/or with the operation,functionality, and/or configuration of fluid delivery system 106. Insome additional aspects, a user 102 h may communicate directly withfluid delivery system 106 using at least one control station 108 and/orone or more input devices that may be associated therewith (such as, forexample and not limitation, a mouse, keyboard, touchscreen, joystick,microphone, camera, scanner, chip reader, card reader, magnetic stripereader, near field communication technology, and the like). By way ofexample and not limitation, control station 108 may comprise a computerkiosk communicatively coupled (either via wireless media (such as, forexample and not limitation, to enable usage from one or more remotelocations) or via wired connectivity) to fluid delivery system 106, orany similar computational and/or electronic device(s) as may be apparentto those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the descriptionherein, as well as any combination thereof. In still some additionalaspects, control station 108 may be used to perform any of the tasksthat may be performed by/using computing device 104.

In various aspects, computing device 104 may be configured as: a desktopcomputer 104 a, a laptop computer 104 b, a tablet or mobile computer 104c, a smartphone (alternatively referred to as a mobile device) 104 d, aPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA) 104 e, a mobile phone 104 f, a handheldscanner 104 g, any commercially-available intelligent communicationsdevice, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, in an aspect of the present disclosure, anapplication service provider's cloud-based, communicationsinfrastructure 101 may include an email gateway 110, an SMS (ShortMessage Service) gateway 112, an MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service)gateway 114, an Instant Message (IM) gateway 116, a paging gateway 118,a voice gateway 120, one or more web servers 122, one or moreapplication servers 124, a user database 126, a fluid delivery systemdatabase 128, and a control station database 130. Application server(s)124 may contain computational instructions, or code, that enables thefunctionality of system 100. User database 126, fluid delivery systemdatabase 128, and/or control station database 130 may not necessarily becontained within infrastructure 101, such as, but not limited to, userdatabase 126, fluid delivery system database 128, and/or control stationdatabase 130 may be supplied by a third party. As will be apparent tothose skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the descriptionherein, communications infrastructure 101 may include one or moreadditional storage, communications, and/or processing components tofacilitate communication within system 100, process data, store content,and the like.

User database 126 may be configured to store information pertaining toone or more users 102. In an aspect, a user 102 may comprise anyindividual or entity that may be responsible for and/or otherwiseconcerned with the functionality, operation, and/or configuration of agiven fluid delivery system 106. User 102 information that may be storedwithin user database 126 may include, by way of example and notlimitation, a given user's 102 name, type (e.g., whether user 102 is anindividual, entity, nonprofit organization, etc.), account or profileinformation (e.g., account settings, account usage history, backgroundinformation regarding user 102, etc.), location, infrastructure 101usage history, login credentials (including, but not limited to,passwords, usernames, passcodes, pin numbers, fingerprint scan data,retinal scan data, voice authentication data, facial recognitioninformation, and the like), and the like.

Fluid delivery system database 128 may be configured to storeinformation pertaining to one or more fluid delivery systems 106. In anaspect, a fluid delivery system 106 may comprise any system, machine,apparatus, or device that may function, at least partially, either byitself or in conjunction with one or more additional systems orcomponents, to transfer an amount of at least one fluid from at leastone fluid source 202 (not shown in FIG. 1) to at least one fluiddestination 208 (not shown in FIG. 1). By way of example and notlimitation, in various aspects, fluid delivery system 106 may compriseone or more manifold apparatuses 302 (not shown in FIG. 1), one or morepumping mechanisms 206 (not shown in FIG. 1), one or more blendingapparatuses 304 (not shown in FIG. 1), one or more wells, one or moreirrigation system components, one or more suction valves; one or moredistribution valves; one or more inlet valves; one or more outletvalves; one or more sections of piping 204 (not shown in FIG. 1) and/ortubing (including high and/or low-pressure piping and/or tubing), and/orthe like, as well as any combination and/or components thereof. Fluiddelivery system 106 information that may be stored within fluid deliverysystem database 128 may include, by way of example and not limitation, agiven fluid delivery system's 106 type (e.g., whether it is a manifoldapparatus 302, pumping mechanism 206, blending apparatus 304, well,irrigation system (or component thereof), hydraulic fracturing system(or component thereof), suction valve, distribution valve, inlet valve,outlet valve, section of piping, section of tubing, etc., or anycombination thereof), manufacturer brand, account or profile information(e.g., account settings, account usage history, fluid delivery system106 background information, capabilities, and/or specifications, etc.),list of previously identified problems or issues therewith, list ofpreviously resolved problems or issues therewith, list of pendingproblems or issues therewith, infrastructure 101 usage history, logincredentials required to access and/or utilize fluid delivery system 106(including passwords, usernames, passcodes, pin numbers, fingerprintscan data, retinal scan data, voice authentication data, facialrecognition information, and the like), at least one predeterminedstandard or value for at least one aspect of fluid delivery system 106(e.g., a desirable density, flow rate, pressure, velocity, temperature,viscosity, composition, and/or volume of at least one fluid that maypass through at least one portion at least one component of fluiddelivery system 106, and the like.

Control station database 130 may be configured to store informationpertaining to at least one control station 108. In some aspects, by wayof example and not limitation, control station 108 may comprise acomputer kiosk communicatively coupled (either via wireless media (suchas, for example and not limitation, to enable usage from one or moreremote locations) or via wired connectivity) to fluid delivery system106 and configured to identify, detect, present, interpret, compare,determine, and/or analyze one or more aspects of fluid delivery system106; or, control station 108 may comprise any similar computational orelectronic device that may be apparent to those skilled in the relevantart(s) after reading the description herein. Control station 108information that may be stored within control station database 130 mayinclude, by way of example and not limitation, control station 108 usagehistory (e.g., which user(s) 102 have used control station 108, how longvarious user(s) 102 have used control station 108, and the like),control station 108 manufacturer information, control station 108specifications and/or capabilities, list of problems or issuespreviously identified using control station 108, list of problems orissues previously resolved using control station 108, list of problemsor issues pending under control station 108, control station 108infrastructure 101 usage history, login credentials required to accessand/or utilize fluid control station 108 (including passwords,usernames, passcodes, pin numbers, fingerprint scan data, retinal scandata, voice authentication data, facial recognition information, and thelike), and the like.

User database 126, fluid delivery system database 128, and controlstation database 130 may each be physically separate from one another,logically separate, or physically or logically indistinguishable fromsome or all other databases.

A system administrator 134 may access infrastructure 101 via theInternet 132 in order to oversee and manage infrastructure 101.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) afterreading the description herein, an application service provider—anindividual person, business, or other entity—may allow access, on a freeregistration, paid subscriber, and/or pay-per-use basis, toinfrastructure 101 via one or more World-Wide Web (WWW) sites on theInternet 132. Thus, system 100 is scalable.

As will also be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s), inan aspect, various screens may be generated by server 122 in response toinput from user(s) 102 over Internet 132. As a nonlimiting example,server 122 may comprise a typical web server running a serverapplication at a website which sends out webpages in response toHypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or Hypertext Transfer ProtocolSecured (HTTPS) requests from remote browsers on various computingdevices 104 or control stations 108 being used by various users 102.Thus, server 122 is able to provide a graphical user interface (GUI) tousers 102 that utilize system 100 in the form of webpages. Thesewebpages are sent to the user's 102 PC, laptop, mobile device, PDA, orlike device 104 or control station 108, and would result in the GUIbeing displayed.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) afterreading the description herein, alternate aspects of the presentdisclosure may include providing a tool for facilitating the detectionof, identification of, and/or resolution of one or more problems orissues associated with one or more aspects of and/or with the operationof, functionality of, and/or configuration of fluid delivery system(s)106 to user(s) 102 via computing device(s) 104 and/or control station(s)108 as a stand-alone system (e.g., installed on one server PC) or as anenterprise system wherein all the components of system 100 are connectedand communicate via an inter-corporate Wide Area Network (WAN) or LocalArea Network (LAN). For example, in an aspect where users 102 are allpersonnel/employees of the same company or are all members of the samegroup, the present disclosure may be implemented as a stand-alonesystem, rather than as a web service (i.e., Application Service Provider(ASP) model utilized by various unassociated/unaffiliated users) asshown in FIG. 1.

As will also be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s)after reading the description herein, alternate aspects of the presentdisclosure may include providing the tools for facilitating thedetection of, identification of, and/or resolution of one or moreproblems or issues associated with one or more aspects of and/or withthe operation of, functionality of, and/or configuration of fluiddelivery system(s) 106 to user(s) 102 via infrastructure 101, computingdevice(s) 104, and/or control station(s) 108 via a browser or operatingsystem pre-installed with an application or a browser or operatingsystem with a separately downloaded application on such computingdevice(s) 104 and/or control station(s) 108. That is, as will also beapparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading thedescription herein, the application that facilitates the detection of,identification of, and/or resolution of one or more problems or issuesassociated with one or more aspects of and/or with the operation of,functionality of, and/or configuration of fluid delivery system(s) 106for user(s) 102 may be part of the “standard” browser or operatingsystem that ships with computing device 104 or control station 108 ormay be later added to an existing browser or operating system as part ofan “add-on,” “plug-in,” or “app store download.”

Infrastructure 101 may be encrypted to provide for securecommunications. A security layer may be included that is configurableusing a non-hard-cooled technique selectable by user 102 which may bebased on at least one of: user 102, country encryption standards, etc. Atype of encryption may include, but is not limited to, protection atleast at one communication protocol layer such as the physical hardwarelayer, communication layer (e.g., radio), data layer, software layer,etc. Encryption may include human interaction and confirmation withbuilt-in and selectable security options, such as, but not limited to,encoding, encrypting, hashing, layering, obscuring, password protecting,obfuscation of data transmission, frequency hopping, and variouscombinations thereof. As a nonlimiting example, the prevention ofspoofing and/or eavesdropping may be accomplished by adding two-prongsecurity communication and confirmation using two or more datacommunication methods (e.g., light and radio) and protocols (e.g.,pattern and freq. hopping). Thus, at least one area of security, asprovided above, may be applied to at least provide for communicationbeing encrypted while in the cloud; communication with user 102,communication with fluid delivery system 106, and/or communication withcontrol station 108 that may occur via the Internet 132, a Wi-Ficonnection, Bluetooth (a wireless technology standard standardized asIEEE 802.15.1), satellite, or another communication link; communicationsbetween computing device(s) 104 and fluid delivery system 106;communications between control station(s) 108 and fluid delivery system106; communications between computing device(s) 104 and controlstation(s) 108; communications between Internet of Things devices andfluid delivery system 106 and/or control station(s) 108; and the like.

The Internet of Things, also known as IoT, is a network of physicalobjects or “things” embedded with electronics, software, sensors, andconnectivity to enable objects to exchange data with the manufacturer,operator, and/or other connected devices based on the infrastructure ofInternational Telecommunication Union's Global Standards Initiative. TheInternet of Things allows objects to be sensed and controlled remotelyacross existing network infrastructure, creating opportunities for moredirect integration between the physical world and computer-basedsystems, and resulting in improved efficiency, accuracy, and economicbenefit. Each thing is uniquely identifiable through its embeddedcomputing system but is able to interoperate within the existingInternet infrastructure. Communications may comprise use of transportlayer security (“TLS”), fast simplex link (“FSL”), data distributionservice (“DDS”), hardware boot security, device firewall, applicationsecurity to harden from malicious attacks,self-healing/patching/firmware upgradability, and the like. Security maybe further included by use of at least one of: obfuscation of datatransmission, hashing, cryptography, public key infrastructure (PKI),secured boot access, and the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2B, block diagrams depicting two possibleconfigurations of a first exemplary fluid delivery system 200, accordingto an aspect of the present disclosure, are shown.

In some nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, fluid delivery system 106 maycomprise a configuration substantially similar to exemplary fluiddelivery system 200 depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B. By way of example andnot limitation, fluid delivery system 200 may comprise at least onefluid source 202, at least one section of piping 204 (shown as pipingsections 204 a-b in FIG. 2B), and at least one fluid destination 208. Insome additional aspects, fluid delivery system 200 may also comprise atleast one pumping mechanism 206.

Fluid delivery system 200 may be configured to transfer an amount of atleast one fluid from fluid source(s) 202 to fluid destination(s) 208 viapiping section(s) 204. Piping section(s) 204 may be configured to atleast partially contain the amount of fluid(s) to be transferred viafluid delivery system 200. By way of example and not limitation, pipingsection(s) 204 may comprise high-pressure piping, low-pressure piping,stainless steel piping, carbon steel piping, tubing, hosing, polyvinylchloride (PVC) piping, any type of fluid line, as well as any similarmaterials and/or configurations as may be apparent to those skilled inthe relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, including anycombination thereof. The movement that enables the transferring of theat least one fluid may be at least partially facilitated bygravitational forces. In aspects wherein at least one pumping mechanism206 may be included with fluid delivery system 200, the movement of theat least one fluid within fluid delivery system 200 may be at leastpartially facilitated by the functioning of such pumping mechanism(s)206.

By way of example and not limitation, fluid source(s) 202 may compriseany appropriate location, container, or configuration that is capable ofholding an amount of at least one fluid, either manmade or naturallyoccurring, such as one or more tanks, vessels, reservoirs, trucks,trailers, wells, ponds, rivers, lakes, oceans, and the like.Additionally, by way of further example and not limitation, fluiddestination(s) 208 may comprise any location, container, orconfiguration where an amount of one or more fluids is required ordesired to be, including one or more wellbores; one or more machines,pieces of equipment, apparatuses, devices, and/or system components; oneor more tanks; one or more vessels; one or more reservoirs; one or moretrucks; one or more trailers, one or more ponds; one or more rivers; oneor more lakes; one or more oceans; and the like.

In aspects wherein fluid delivery system 200 may comprise one or morepumping mechanisms 206, such pumping mechanisms 206 may comprise anyappropriate form as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevantart(s) after reading the description herein, such as pressure pumps(including frac pumps), transfer pumps, and the like. Fluid deliverysystem 200 may also comprise one or more suction valves, distributionvalves, inlet valves, outlet valves, and/or similar fluid flow controlmechanisms or structures as may be apparent to those skilled in therelevant art(s) after reading the description herein as needed.

Fluid delivery system 200 may further comprise at least one sensingdevice 210 (shown as sensing devices 210 a-c in FIGS. 2A-2B) configuredto measure, sense, and/or detect at least one aspect of fluid deliverysystem 200. By way of example and not limitation, sensing device(s) 210may comprise one or more flow measuring devices (e.g., various flowmeter(s) 502 (not shown in FIGS. 2A-2B), etc.), one or more densitymeasuring devices (e.g., densimeter(s), etc.), one or more temperaturemeasuring devices (e.g., thermometer(s), temperature meter(s), etc.),one or more viscosity measuring devices (e.g., viscometers, rheometers,etc.), one or more pressure measuring devices (e.g., pressuretransducer(s) 504 (not shown in FIGS. 2A-2B), pressure meter(s), etc.),one or more velocity sensing devices (e.g., flow velocity measuringdevices, anemometers, etc.), one or more composition analyzing devices,one or more volume measuring devices (e.g., volume sensor(s), etc.),and/or any similar device(s), mechanism(s), apparatus(es), orcomponent(s) as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s)after reading the description herein, including any combination thereof.By way of further example and not limitation, the measurement and/ordetection of the at least one aspect of fluid delivery system 200 maycomprise measuring and/or detecting a density, a flow rate, a pressure,a velocity, a temperature, a viscosity, a composition, and/or a volumeof at least one fluid passing through at least one portion of at leastone component of fluid delivery system 200; measuring and/or detectingat least one operating condition of one or more components of fluiddelivery system 200 (e.g., a pressure, temperature, function speed, etc.being experienced by the component(s)); and/or any similar aspect(s) offluid delivery system 200 as may be apparent to those skilled in therelevant art(s) after reading the description herein. In some aspects,sensing device(s) 210 may be communicatively coupled to computingdevice(s) 104 (not shown in FIGS. 2A-2B) and/or control station 108 (notshown in FIGS. 2A-2B), either via wireless media (such as, for exampleand not limitation, via Bluetooth (a wireless technology standardstandardized as IEEE 802.15.1)) or via wired connectivity in order toperform one or more calculations on detected/measured/sensed data fromsensing device(s) 210 and convert the data into a form more usable byuser(s) 102 (not shown in FIGS. 2A-2B) (e.g., density data may be usedto calculate a pressure of fluid(s) within one or more components offluid delivery system 200, fluid flow data may be used to calculate anoperating efficiency for one or more pumping mechanisms 206, etc.). Insome aspects, one or more of sensing devices 210 may be configured withInternet of Things capabilities.

Sensing device(s) 210 that may be associated with fluid delivery system106 (including the configuration represented by fluid delivery system200) may be configured at various locations anywhere within and/or uponfluid delivery system 106 from (and including) fluid source(s) 202 to(and including) fluid destination(s) 208 in order to, by way of exampleand not limitation, measure, sense, and/or detect one or more changes inthe density, flow rate, pressure, velocity, temperature, viscosity,composition, and/or volume of the fluid(s) passing through one or moreportions or components of fluid delivery system 106 and/or one or morechanges regarding the operating condition(s) of one or more componentsof fluid delivery system 200 (e.g., a change in pressure, temperature,function speed, etc. being experienced by the component(s)). Suchchanges may be indicative of one or more problems or issues beingexperienced by fluid delivery system 106 that may need to be addressedor resolved. Some nonlimiting examples of problems or issues that fluiddelivery system 106 or one or more components thereof may experience orencounter may include component failure, normal wear and tear, fallout,deadheading, cavitation, sand slugs, iron failure, and/or sanding off.Additionally, in various instances, one or more components or portionsof fluid delivery system 106 may experience situations in which there ispressure but no fluid flow, fluid flow but no pressure, and/or one ormore blockages. All of these situations may be detected via sensingdevice(s) 210 and may be addressed or resolved in any appropriatemanner. By way of example and not limitation, sensing device(s) 210 maybe configured upon/within manifold apparatus 302 (not shown in FIGS.2A-2B) when relevant, pumping mechanism(s) 206 when relevant, and/orblending apparatus 304 (not shown in FIGS. 2A-2B) when relevant, as wellas upon/within any portion(s) of tubing and/or piping 204 (includinghigh and/or low-pressure tubing and/or piping 204) that may interconnectthe various components of fluid delivery system 106. Sensing device(s)210 may be communicatively coupled to computing device(s) 104 and/orcontrol station 108, either via wireless media (such as, for example andnot limitation, via Bluetooth (a wireless technology standardstandardized as IEEE 802.15.1)) or via wired connectivity, so that atleast one user 102 may view the data or information obtained by sensingdevice(s) 210 thereon, such as, for example and not limitation, via agraphical user interface presented via a display screen or monitor thatmay be associated with (either directly or indirectly) sensing device(s)210. In some aspects, one or more sensing devices 210 may beincorporated with its own display screen or monitor so that one or moreusers 102 may view the data or information directly from the relevantsensing device(s) 210.

Sensing device(s) 210 used within and/or upon various portions orcomponents of fluid delivery system 106 may be affixed using anyappropriate means, mechanisms, or devices as may be apparent to thoseskilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein,including via welding, via adhesion, and via various fastening elementssuch as nails, nuts, bolts, screws, washers, clips, clamps, clasps,hooks, pins, brackets, and the like, as well as any combination thereof,By way of example and not limitation, sensing device(s) 210 associatedwith fluid delivery system 106 may be configured inline of piping 204within the flow of the fluid(s) that may pass therethrough. This may beparticularly true in aspects wherein sensing device(s) 210 may compriseone or more flow meters 502 configured to measure the linear, nonlinear,mass, volumetric, or similar flow rate of one or more fluids flowingthrough one or more portions and/or components of fluid delivery system106. In such aspects, flow meter(s) 502 may be affixed within one ormore sections of piping 204 via one or more flange adapters (such asthose available from Victaulie of Easton, Pa.), one or more hammerunions, various clamping or coupling mechanisms, as well as any similarconnective, fastening, and/or clamping mechanisms or devices as may beapparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading thedescription herein, as well as any combination thereof. In aspectswherein sensing device(s) 210 may comprise one or more pressuretransducers 504, such pressure transducer(s) 504 may be affixed uponand/or within one or more portions or components of fluid deliverysystem 106 via one or more 0.2500 inch National Pipe Thread (NPT)fittings, one or more high-pressure Weco® unions (such as thoseavailable from TechnipFMC plc of London, United Kingdom), as well as anysimilar connective, fastening, and/or clamping mechanisms or devices asmay be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after readingthe description herein, as well as any combination thereof.

In aspects wherein sensing device(s) 210 may be included within and/orupon individual component(s) (e.g., by way of limitation, pumpingmechanism 206 as represented by sensing device 210 b in FIG. 2B) offluid delivery system 106, user(s) 102 may, for example and notlimitation, be able to quickly identify which component(s) of fluiddelivery system 106 are experiencing problems or issues (in some aspectsin a substantially instantaneous fashion), be able to determine and/orview an operating efficiency for each component (in some aspects insubstantially real time), be able to determine and/or view an operatingcondition for each component e.g., a pressure, temperature, functionspeed, etc. being experienced by the component(s)), be able to determineand/or view a diagnosis for any problem(s) or issue(s) that may beoccurring with regard to (or within) each component, and/or implementany necessary or desired changes or adjustments to any component(s) offluid delivery system 106 (including, by way of example and notlimitation, the shutdown, replacement, and or operational adjustment(e.g., decrease speed of pumping mechanism(s) 206, increase intake fromfluid source(s) 202, etc.) of one or more components of fluid deliverysystem 106). Being able to quickly identify and resolve one or moreproblems or issues associated with fluid delivery system 106 or one ormore components thereof may help to improve the overall operatingefficiency and effectiveness of fluid delivery system 106 and reduce,prevent, or minimize any unwanted suspension of fluid delivery system106, among other things. In some aspects, user(s) 102 may initiate anyrequired or desired changes or adjustments to one or more aspects offluid delivery system 106 or one or more components thereof bymanipulating one or more air actuators 406 (not shown in FIGS. 2A-2B),suction valves, discharge valves, inlet valves, outlet valves, and/orany similar fluid flow control devices or mechanisms as may be apparentto those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the descriptionherein that may be associated with fluid delivery system 106 and/or anycomponent(s) thereof. Such device(s) or mechanism(s) may be manipulatedmanually or at least partially autonomously via instructions from one ormore computing device(s) 104 and/or control station(s) 108.

In some aspects, it may be important to optimize the performance of eachpumping mechanism 206 that may be utilized with a given fluid deliverysystem 106. Therefore, in some nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, it maybe beneficial for fluid delivery system 106 to include at least onesensing device 210 in the form of an inline densimeter in at least oneportion of the tubing and/or piping 204 leading to each pumpingmechanism 206 in order to, for example and not limitation, detectproblems or issues, such as head loss, that may be developing near theentrance to pumping mechanism(s) 206 and/or occurring therein.Additionally, sensing device(s) 210 in the form of one or more flowmeters 502 may be positioned within at least one portion of tubingand/or piping 204 coming into and/or going out of each pumping mechanism206 associated with fluid delivery system 106 and/or within each pumpingmechanism 206, in order to detect, identify, prevent, and/or quicklyresolve problems or issues that may be occurring therewith and/ortherein, such as, by way of example and not limitation, cavitation.These configurations of sensing device(s) 210, along with others, mayhelp increase the efficiency of each pumping mechanism 206 as well asincrease the efficiency and/or effectiveness of fluid delivery system106 as a whole and/or reduce, prevent, or minimize the undesiredsuspension of the operation of fluid delivery system 106, thereby savingtime and money.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an image depicting a second exemplary fluiddelivery system 300, according to an aspect of the present disclosure,is shown.

In some aspects, by way of example and not limitation, fluid deliverysystem 106 may take the form of exemplary fluid delivery system 300.Fluid delivery system 300 may comprise at least one fluid source 202and/or additive source in the form of at least one blending apparatus304, at least one pumping mechanism 206 (labeled only as pumpingmechanism 206 a in FIG. 3, for clarity), at least one section of tubingand/or piping 204 (labeled only as piping section 204 a in FIG. 3, forclarity), at least one data cable 310 (labeled only as data cables 310a-b in FIG. 3, for clarity), and at least one fluid destination 208 inthe form of at least one wellhead 314. In some additional aspects, fluiddelivery system 300 may further comprise at least one manifold apparatus302 (such as a frac manifold or missile, either in/upon a trailer or inanother configuration), and at least one data center 312 (which mayinclude one or more computing devices 104 (not shown in FIG. 3) and/orcontrol stations 108 (not shown in FIG. 3). In still some additionalaspects, fluid delivery system 300 may comprise one or more fracturingtanks, one or more units for storing and/or handling proppant (includingone or more components of blending apparatus 304, such as, by way ofexample and not limitation, blending tub 306 and/or hopper 308), one ormore high-pressure treating irons, one or more chemical additive units(used to monitor the addition of one or more additives to one or morefluids), one or more low-pressure flexible hoses, and/or one or moregauges and/or meters for displaying various types of informationregarding one or more aspects of fluid delivery system 300. Althoughblending apparatus 304 is depicted in a trailer mounted form in FIG. 3,as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) afterreading the description herein, blending apparatus 304 may compriseother various forms that are not trailer mounted.

In some nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, fluid delivery system 300 maybe configured for use with one or more wellbores associated with one ormore hydraulic fracturing processes. In such (or similar) embodiments,by way of example and not limitation, pumping mechanism(s) 206 maycomprise one or more frac pumps (such as, for example and notlimitation, one or more triplex or quintuplex pumps) or mud pumpsconfigured to increase the pressure of a slurry being transported to thewellbore(s) via fluid delivery system 300. Additionally, in suchexemplary embodiments, by way of further example and not limitation,blending apparatus 304 may comprise one or more components (such as, byway of example and not limitation, blending tub 306) configured tocombine at least one portion of the fluid(s) (e.g., water, oil,methanol, slickwater, gasoline, one or more petroleum products, one ormore chemicals, one or more gels, one or more crosslinkers, saltwater,brine, one or more acids, produced water, dirty water, LNG, pipelinequality natural gas, other natural gas, propane, biofuel, and/or thelike) from fluid source(s) 202 with one or more additives (e.g., atleast one chemical, compound, fluid, proppant, and/or the like) from atleast one additive source such as, by way of example and not limitation,hopper 308, in order to form the slurry. Furthermore, in such exemplaryembodiments, by way of yet further example and not limitation, fluiddestination(s) 208 may comprise one or more wellheads 314 configured toreceive an amount of pressurized slurry and deliver the slurry to aninternal portion of at least one wellbore. Moreover, in such exemplaryembodiments, by way of still further example and not limitation, datacenter(s) 312 may take the form of one or more data vans configured tohouse one or more computing devices 104, control stations 108, and/orother computational and/or electronic devices configured to provide atleast one user 102 (not shown in FIG. 3) with information regarding atleast one aspect of fluid delivery system 300 as detected by one or moresensing devices 210 (not shown in FIG. 3) and/or to facilitate theability of user(s) 102 to change, adjust, and/or otherwise control oneor more aspects of fluid delivery system 300.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a perspective view of an exemplary manifoldapparatus 302 for use with fluid delivery system 106, according to anaspect of the present disclosure, is shown.

In some aspects, manifold apparatus 302 used with fluid delivery system106 (such as, for example and not limitation, fluid delivery system 300)may comprise one or more sensing devices 210 configured to measure,sense, and/or detect one or more aspects of one or more fluids passingthrough manifold apparatus 302 and/or configured to measure, sense,and/or detect one or more aspects of manifold apparatus 302 itself. Insome nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, manifold apparatus 302 maycomprise a frac manifold or missile with a high-pressure side and alow-pressure side. By way of example and not limitation, in aspectswherein fluid delivery system 106 may be configured for use with one ormore wellbores associated with one or more hydraulic fracturingprocesses, manifold apparatus 302 may comprise one or more sensingdevices 210 in the form of one or more magnetic flow meters 402 and/orone or more one high-pressure valve indicators 408. Additionally,manifold apparatus 302 may comprise at least one air actuator 406 for atleast one suction valve that may be adjusted manually by user(s) 102(not shown in FIG. 4) and/or adjusted via computing device(s) 104 and/orcontrol station(s) 108. In some additional aspects, magnetic flowmeter(s) 402 may include one or more pressure and/or temperature inputcapabilities. In still some additional aspects, manifold apparatus 302may be integrated with at least one control system hub 404 via which oneor more users 102 may control the functioning of and/or otherwiseinteract with manifold apparatus 302 and/or any sensing devices 210associated therewith. In such aspects, control system hub 404 mayinclude and/or function similarly to computing device(s) 104 and/orcontrol station(s) 108.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a top view of exemplary manifold apparatus 302for use with fluid delivery system 106, according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure, is shown.

By way of example and not limitation, in some aspects, manifoldapparatus 302 may comprise one or more sensing devices 210 in the formof at least one flow meter 502 (shown as flow meters 502 a-d in FIG. 5)and at least one pressure transducer 504 (shown as pressure transducers504 a-d in FIG. 5). By way of further example and not limitation, eachflow meter 502 may comprise a magnetic flow meter 402, anelectromagnetic flow meter, a turbine style flow meter, a mass flow(i.e., Coriolis) flow meter, and/or any similar flow measuring device(s)that may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) afterreading the description herein, as well as any combination thereof. Insome aspects, each flow meter 502 may be accurate to within one percentor less of the actual flow measurement of the fluid(s) passing throughone or more portions of manifold apparatus 302 or any other component(s)of fluid delivery system 106 (not shown in FIG. 5).

In some aspects, each flow meter 502 may be configured within and/orupon manifold apparatus 302 so that it may be able to measure thelinear, nonlinear, mass, or volumetric flow rate of one or more fluidsflowing through one or more portions of manifold apparatus 302, such as,by way of example and not limitation, configured inline of one or moreportions of manifold apparatus 302 within the flow of the fluid(s) thatmay pass therethrough. By monitoring the flow rate of the fluid(s),user(s) 102 (not shown in FIG. 5), computing device(s) 104 (not shown inFIG. 5), and/or control station(s) 108 (not shown in FIG. 5) (Includingcontrol system hub(s) 404 (not shown in FIG. 5), when relevant) may havethe ability to identify and, if necessary, initiate or perform one ormore actions to resolve one or more problems or issues associated withone or more aspects of a given manifold apparatus 302 and/or anassociated fluid delivery system 106 or one or more portions orcomponents thereof. By way of example and not limitation, anunintentional or undesired increase or decrease in the flow rate offluid(s) passing through one or more portions of manifold apparatus 302may indicate one or more problems or issues therein or therewith, suchas, by way of example and not limitation, head loss within manifoldapparatus 302, one or more leaks within manifold apparatus 302, unevenflow throughout manifold apparatus 302, and/or an additive concentrationwithin manifold apparatus 302 that is too low or too high. When suchproblem(s) or issue(s) may be identified, they may be compensated for byadjusting the flow of fluid(s) through manifold apparatus 302 and/orrepairing, replacing, or adjusting the functionality or operation theappropriate/relevant component(s) of fluid delivery system 106,including any appropriate/relevant component(s) or portion(s) ofmanifold apparatus 302. Knowing which portion(s) or component(s) offluid delivery system 106 (including manifold apparatus 302) areexperiencing problems or issues may allow those problems/issues to beresolved in a timely manner while experiencing minimal downtime forfluid delivery system 106, thereby improving the overall efficiency andeffectiveness of fluid delivery system 106, saving both time and money.Additionally, by quickly identifying problems/issues using flow meter(s)502 and/or pressure transducer(s) 504 associated with manifold apparatus302, problems/issues such as cavitation may be minimized, prevented, oreliminated and damage to manifold apparatus 302 and/or one or more othercomponents of fluid delivery system 106 may be minimized or avoided.

In some aspects, each pressure transducer 504 may be configured withinand/or upon manifold apparatus 302 in order to detect the pressure ofthe fluid(s) passing through manifold apparatus 302 at variouslocations. Knowing when the pressure of the fluid(s) reaches levels thatare too low or too high may allow user(s) 102, computing device(s) 104,and/or control station(s) 108 (including control hub(s) 404) to identifyproblems or issues with one or more components of fluid delivery system106 (such as, by way of example and not limitation, pumping mechanisms206 (not shown in FIG. 5) (e.g., one or more pressure pumps, etc.))associated with manifold apparatus 302 or one or more other portions orcomponents of fluid delivery system 106 and make any necessary ordesired changes or adjustments thereto without interrupting the generaloperation of fluid delivery system 106, thereby increasing the overallefficiency and effectiveness of fluid delivery system 106, minimizing,preventing, or eliminating problems/issues such as cavitation withinfluid delivery system 106, and minimizing or avoiding damage to one ormore components of fluid delivery system 106, including manifoldapparatus 302 and/or pumping mechanism(s) 206.

In some aspects, flow meter(s) 502 may be configured along an outerperimeter of manifold apparatus 302 while pressure transducer(s) 504 maybe configured at opposing distal ends of manifold apparatus 302.However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s)after reading the description herein, many different locations may besuitable for flow meter(s) 502 and/or pressure transducer(s) 504.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process600 for facilitating the ability of at least one user 102 to manuallyreceive at least one detection of and make at least one adjustment to atleast one aspect of fluid delivery system 106, according to an aspect ofthe present disclosure, is shown.

Process 600, which may at least partially execute within system 100 (notshown in FIG. 6), begins at step 602 with control passing immediately tostep 604.

At step 604, at least one sensing device 210 (not shown in FIG. 6)associated with fluid delivery system 106 (not shown in FIG. 6)measures, senses, and/or detects at least one aspect of a particularfluid delivery system 106. By way of example and not limitation, sensingdevice(s) 210 may comprise one or more flow meters 502, densimeters,thermometers, pressure transducers 504, velocity sensors, and/or volumesensors. By way of further example and not limitation, the measurementand/or detection of the at least one aspect of fluid delivery system 106may comprise measuring and/or detecting a density, a flow rate, apressure, a velocity, a temperature, a viscosity, a composition, and/ora volume of at least one fluid passing through at least one portion ofat least one component of fluid delivery system 106; measuring and/ordetecting at least one operating condition of one or more components offluid delivery system 106 (e.g., a pressure, temperature, functionspeed, etc. being experienced by the component(s)); and/or any similarmeasurements and/or detections as may be apparent to those skilled inthe relevant art(s) after reading the description herein.

At step 606, at least one user 102 views sensing device(s) 210 in orderto obtain information about one or more aspects of fluid delivery system106, including but not limited to a flow rate, density, composition,temperature, viscosity, pressure, velocity, and/or volume of thefluid(s) passing through one or more portions of one or more componentsof fluid delivery system 106; at least one operating condition of one ormore components of fluid delivery system 106 (e.g., a pressure,temperature, function speed, etc. being experienced by thecomponent(s)); and/or any similar data or information as may be apparentto those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the descriptionherein. By way of example and not limitation, such data or informationmay be presented upon one or more gauges, meters, display screens,monitors, or similar mechanisms or devices associated with sensingdevice(s) 210 (either directly or indirectly) as may be apparent tothose skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the descriptionherein.

At step 608, the at least one user 102 determines whether anyadjustments need to be made to fluid delivery system 106, including anycomponents thereof. By way of example and not limitation, thedetermination may be made at least partially based on whether the atleast one user 102 thinks that fluid delivery system 106 is operatingless efficiently and/or effectively than it could be and/or whether theat least one user 102 thinks that continuing the operation of fluiddelivery system 106 may cause damage to one or more components thereof.If the determination is in the affirmative, process 600 proceeds to step610; if the determination is negative, process 600 proceeds to step 612.

At step 610, the at least one user 102 makes at least one adjustment toat least one aspect of fluid delivery system 106. By way of example andnot limitation, the adjustment(s) may be made by user 102 manuallyadjusting one or more mechanisms or devices associated with fluiddelivery system 106, including but not limited to one or more airactuators 406 (not shown in FIG. 6), discharge valves, suction valves,inlet valves, outlet valves, high-pressure valves, and other valves, aswell as any similar appropriate fluid flow control mechanisms or devicesas may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after readingthe description herein. By adjusting such mechanisms or devices, user102 may be able adjust the flow rate, density, composition, pressure,temperature, viscosity, velocity, and/or volume of the fluid(s) withinat least one portion of at least one component fluid delivery system106, thereby facilitating the resolution of any problem(s)/issue(s)being experienced by fluid delivery system 106 or one or more componentsthereof and/or minimizing or avoiding damage thereto. Other types ofadjustments may be made to other aspects of fluid delivery system 106 asmay be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after readingthe description herein, including adjusting one or more operatingparameters of one or more components of fluid delivery system 106 (e.g.,a speed of operation, a mode of function, etc.).

At step 612 process 600 is terminated and process 600 ends.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process700 for facilitating the ability of at least one user 102 to use atleast one computing device 104 to make at least one detection of andmake at least one adjustment to at least one aspect of fluid deliverysystem 106, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown.

Process 700, which may at least partially execute within system 100 (notshown in FIG. 7), begins at step 702 with control passing immediately tostep 704.

At step 704, a user 102 (not shown in FIG. 7) logs in to system 100 viaa computing device 104 (not shown in FIG. 7) or control station 108 (notshown in FIG. 7). In some aspects, user 102, computing device 104, orcontrol station 108 may provide login credentials, thereby allowingaccess to an account or profile associated with user 102. By way ofexample and not limitation, the login credentials may take place via asoftware application, a website, a web application, or the like accessedby computing device 104 or control station 108. By way of furtherexample and not limitation, login credentials may comprise a username,password, passcode, key code, pin number, visual identification,fingerprint scan, retinal scan, voice authentication, facialrecognition, and/or any similar identifying and/or security elements asmay be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after readingthe description herein as being able to securely determine the identityof user 102. In some aspects, user 102 may login using a login servicesuch as a social media login service, an identity/credential providerservice, a single sign on service, and the like. In various aspects,users 102 may create user 102 accounts/profiles via such login services.Any user 102 accounts/profiles may, in some aspects, be stored withinand retrieved from, by way of example and not limitation, user database126 (not shown in FIG. 7). Once user 102 has successfully logged in tosystem 100, process 700 proceeds to step 706.

At step 706, at least one sensing device 210 (not shown in FIG. 7)associated with fluid delivery system 106 measures, senses, and/ordetects at least one aspect of fluid delivery system 106. By way ofexample and not limitation, sensing device(s) 210 may comprise one ormore flow meters 502 (not shown in FIG. 7), densimeters, thermometers,pressure transducers 504 (not shown in FIG. 7), velocity sensors, and/orvolume sensors. By way of further example and not limitation, themeasurement and/or detection of the at least one aspect of fluiddelivery system 106 may comprise measuring and/or detecting a density, aflow rate, a pressure, a velocity, a temperature, a viscosity, acomposition, and/or a volume of at least one fluid passing through atleast one portion of at least one component of fluid delivery system106; measuring and/or detecting at least one operating condition of oneor more components of fluid delivery system 106 (e.g., a pressure,temperature, function speed, etc. being experienced by thecomponent(s)); and/or any similar measurements and/or detections as maybe apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading thedescription herein. In some aspects, sensing device(s) 210 may becommunicatively coupled to computing device(s) 104 and/or controlstation 108, either via wireless media (such as, for example and notlimitation, to enable user 102 interaction with sensing device(s) 210from one or more remote locations) or via wired connectivity.

At step 708, computing device(s) 104 and/or control station 108 convertor interpret measured, sensed, and/or detected data from sensingdevice(s) 210 into information in a form that may be useful to user 102by performing one or more calculations. By way of example and notlimitation, sensing device(s) 210 in the form of one or more densimetersmay provide measured/sensed/detected density information to determine apressure for the fluid(s) within at least one portion of at least onecomponent of fluid delivery system 106, while sensing device(s) 210 inthe form of one or more flow meters 502 may providemeasured/sensed/detected fluid flow data that may be used with componentdata to determine an operating efficiency for one or more components offluid delivery system 106 such as, by way of example and not limitation,pumping mechanism(s) 206 (not shown in FIG. 7) (e.g., by usingmeasured/sensed/detected fluid flow data with data regarding the sizeand operating rate of pumping mechanism(s) 206) (or, in some aspects, todetermine an operating efficiency for fluid delivery system 106 as awhole). Other similar conversions and/or calculations may be performedto obtain other useful data as may be apparent to those skilled in therelevant art(s) after reading the description herein. In some aspects,the data obtained from sensing device(s) 210 may be useful to user 102without any conversion or interpretation. In such aspects step 708 maybe skipped.

At step 710, at least one user 102 is presented with informationregarding at least one aspect of fluid delivery system 106. By way ofexample and not limitation, such information may be displayed via atleast one graphical user interface associated with computing device(s)104 and/or control station 108 communicatively coupled to sensingdevice(s) 210, or upon a screen or monitor associated with a givensensing device 210 (either directly or indirectly). Additionally oralternatively, the information may be presented upon one or more gauges,meters, display screens, monitors, or similar mechanisms or devicesassociated with sensing device(s) 210 (either directly or indirectly) asmay be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after readingthe description herein. The displayed information may comprise, by wayof example and not limitation, a flow rate, density, composition,temperature, viscosity, pressure, velocity, and/or volume of thefluid(s) passing through one or more portions of one or more componentsof fluid delivery system 106; an operating efficiency of one or morecomponents of fluid delivery system 106; an operating condition of oneor more components of fluid delivery system 106 (e.g., a pressure,temperature, function speed, etc. being experienced by thecomponent(s)); and/or any similar data or information as may be apparentto those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the descriptionherein. By way of further example and not limitation, the data orinformation presented to user(s) 102 may also comprise location and/orcomponent information. For instance, in some nonlimiting exemplaryembodiments, the presented information may indicate to user(s) 102 wherewithin fluid delivery system 106 a given flow rate measurement was takenor which component(s) of fluid delivery system 106 are experiencing aparticular pressure level.

At step 712, the at least one user 102 determines whether anyadjustments need to be made to fluid delivery system 106, including anycomponents thereof. By way of example and not limitation, thedetermination may be made at least partially based on whether the atleast one user 102 thinks that fluid delivery system 106 is operatingless efficiently and/or effectively than it could be and/or whether theat least one user 102 thinks that continuing the operation of fluiddelivery system 106 may cause damage to one or more components thereof.In some aspects, this determination may be at least partially made withthe assistance of mathematical and/or computational analysis performedby one or more computing devices 104 and/or one or more control stations108 and/or by one or more computing devices 104 and/or one or morecontrol stations 108 comparing the detected/measured aspect(s) of fluiddelivery system 106 to one or more predetermined standards or values(e.g., as a nonlimiting example, that may be stored in and retrievedfrom fluid delivery system database 128) (or a range or predeterminedstandards or values) and determining whether the detected/measuredaspect(s) are outside of a tolerable deviation of the one or morepredetermined standards or values (or a range thereof). If thedetermination is in the affirmative, process 700 proceeds to step 714;if the determination is negative, process 700 proceeds to step 718.

At step 714, user 102 initiates at least one adjustment to at least oneaspect of fluid delivery system 106 via at least one input device (suchas, for example and not limitation, a mouse, keyboard, touchscreen,joystick, microphone, camera, scanner, chip reader, card reader,magnetic stripe reader, near field communication technology, and thelike) associated with computing device(s) 104 and/or control station(s)108 and uses the input device(s) to identify the desired adjustment(s)via at least one graphical user interface presented via a monitor ordisplay screen associated (either directly or indirectly) with computingdevice(s) 104 and/or control station(s) 108. By way of example and notlimitation, the at least one adjustment to the at least one aspect offluid delivery system 106 may comprise an adjustment to the flow rate,density, composition, pressure, temperature, viscosity, velocity, and/orvolume of the fluid(s) within at least one portion of at least onecomponent of fluid delivery system 106, thereby facilitating theresolution of one or more problems or issues being experienced by fluiddelivery system 106 or any component(s) thereof and/or minimizing oravoiding damage thereto. Other types of adjustments may be made to otheraspects of fluid delivery system 106 as may be apparent to those skilledin the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, includingadjusting one or more operating parameters of one or more components offluid delivery system 106 (e.g., a speed of operation, a mode offunction, etc.). In order to instigate any adjustment(s) to theaspect(s) of fluid delivery system 106 requested by user 102, computingdevice(s) 104 and/or control station(s) 108 may control the manipulationof one or more mechanisms or devices associated with fluid deliverysystem 106, including but not limited to one or more air actuators 406(not shown in FIG. 7), discharge valves, suction valves, inlet valves,outlet valves, high-pressure valves, and other valves, as well as anysimilar appropriate fluid flow control mechanisms or devices as may beapparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading thedescription herein.

At step 716, user 102 terminates the open session within system 100. Allcommunication between computing device(s) 104 and/or control station(s)108 and system 100 may be closed. In some aspects, user 102 may log outof system 100, though this may not be necessary.

In various aspects, steps 704 and 716 of process 700 may be omitted, asuser 102 may not be required to log in or log out of system 100.

At step 718 process 700 is terminated and process 700 ends.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process800 for facilitating the ability of at least one user 102 to detect andmake at least one adjustment to at least one aspect of fluid deliverysystem 106, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown.

Process 800, which may at least partially execute within system 100 (notshown in FIG. 8), begins at step 802 with control passing immediately tostep 804.

At step 804, system 100 detects at least one aspect of fluid deliverysystem 106 (not shown if FIG. 8). By way of example and not limitation,the detection may be made by one or more sensing devices 210 (not showin FIG. 8) (e.g., one or more flow meters 502 (not shown in FIG. 8),densimeters, thermometers, pressure transducers 504 (not shown in FIG.8), velocity sensors, volume sensors, and/or the like) that may beassociated with fluid delivery system 106. By way of further example andnot limitation, the at least one aspect of fluid delivery system 106 maycomprise a density, a flow rate, a pressure, a velocity, a temperature,a viscosity, a composition, and/or a volume of at least one fluidpassing through at least one portion of at least one component of fluiddelivery system 106; at least one operating condition of one or morecomponents of fluid delivery system 106 (e.g., a pressure, temperature,function speed, etc. being experienced by the component(s)); and/or anysimilar aspects of fluid delivery system 106 as may be apparent to thoseskilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein.

At step 806, computing device(s) 104 (not shown in FIG. 8) and/orcontrol station 108 (not shown in FIG. 8) convert or interpret measured,sensed, and/or detected data from sensing device(s) 210 into informationin a form that may be useful to user 102 by performing one or morecalculations. By way of example and not limitation, sensing device(s)210 in the form of one or more densimeters may providedetected/measured/sensed density information to determine a pressure forthe fluid(s) within at least one portion of at least one component offluid delivery system 106, while sensing device(s) 210 in the form ofone or more flow meters 502 may provide detected/measured/sensed fluidflow data to determine an operating efficiency for one or morecomponents of fluid delivery system 106 such as, by way of example andnot limitation, pumping mechanism(s) 206 (not shown in FIG. 8) (e.g., byusing measured/sensed/detected fluid flow data with data regarding thesize and operating rate of pumping mechanism(s) 206) (or, in someaspects, to determine an operating efficiency for fluid delivery system106 as a whole). Other similar conversions and/or calculations may beperformed to obtain other useful data as may be apparent to thoseskilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. Insome aspects, the data obtained from sensing device(s) 210 may be usefulto user 102 without any conversion or interpretation. In such aspectsstep 806 may be skipped

At step 808, system 100 presents information regarding at least oneaspect of fluid delivery system 106 to at least one user 102 (not shownin FIG. 8). By way of example and not limitation, such information maybe displayed via at least one graphical user interface upon one or moredisplay screens or monitors associated (either directly or indirectly)with computing device(s) 104 and/or control station(s) 108 that may becommunicatively coupled (either via wireless media (such as, for exampleand not limitation, to enable user 102 interaction with sensingdevice(s) 210 from one or more remote locations) or via wiredconnectivity) to one or more sensing devices 210, or via one or moredisplay screens, monitors, gauges, meters, and/or similar devices ormechanisms as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s)after reading the description herein that may be associated (eitherdirectly or indirectly) with a given sensing device 210. The displayedinformation may comprise, by way of example and not limitation, a flowrate, density, composition, temperature, viscosity, pressure, velocity,and/or volume of the fluid(s) passing through one or more portions ofone or more components of fluid delivery system 106; an operatingefficiency of one or more components of fluid delivery system 106; anoperating condition of one or more components of fluid delivery system106 (e.g., a pressure, temperature, function speed, etc. beingexperienced by the component(s)); and/or any similar data or informationas may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after readingthe description herein. By way of further example and not limitation,the data or information presented to user(s) 102 may also compriselocation and/or component information. For instance, in some nonlimitingexemplary embodiments, the presented information may indicate to user(s)102 where within fluid delivery system 106 a given flow rate measurementwas taken or which component(s) of fluid delivery system 106 areexperiencing a particular pressure level.

At step 810, system 100 receives at least one input from the at leastone user 102 in order to initiate at least one adjustment to at leastone aspect of fluid delivery system 106. By way of example and notlimitation, the at least one input may be received via at least oneinput device (such as, for example and not limitation, a mouse,keyboard, touchscreen, joystick, microphone, camera, scanner, chipreader, card reader, magnetic stripe reader, near field communicationtechnology, and the like) associated with computing device(s) 104 and/orcontrol station(s) 108. By way of further example and not limitation,the at least one adjustment to the at least one aspect of fluid deliverysystem 106 may comprise an adjustment to the flow rate, density,composition, pressure, temperature, viscosity, velocity, and/or volumeof the fluid(s) within at least one portion of one component of fluiddelivery system 106, thereby resolving one or more problems or issuesbeing experienced by fluid delivery system 106 or any component(s)thereof and/or minimizing or avoiding damage thereto. Other types ofadjustments may be made to other aspects of fluid delivery system 106 asmay be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after readingthe description herein, including adjusting one or more operatingparameters of one or more components of fluid delivery system 106 (e.g.,a speed of operation, a mode of function, etc.). In order to instigateany adjustment(s) to the aspect(s) of fluid delivery system 106requested by user 102, computing device(s) 104 and/or control station(s)108 may control the manipulation of one or more mechanisms or devicesassociated with fluid delivery system 106, including but not limited toone or more air actuators 406 (not shown in FIG. 8), discharge valves,suction valves, inlet valves, outlet valves, high-pressure valves, andother valves, as well as any other similar fluid flow control mechanismsor devices as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s)after reading the description herein. In some aspects, user 102 maycontrol the manipulation of such mechanisms or devices manually.

At step 812 process 800 is terminated and process 800 ends.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process900 for facilitating the ability of at least one computing device 104 todetect and make at least one adjustment to at least one aspect of fluiddelivery system 106, according to an aspect of the present disclosure,is shown.

Process 900, which may at least partially execute within system 100 (notshown in FIG. 9), begins at step 902 with control passing immediately tostep 904.

At step 904, system 100 detects at least one aspect of fluid deliverysystem 106 (not shown in FIG. 9). By way of example and not limitation,the detection may be made by one or more sensing devices 210 (not shownin FIG. 9) (e.g., one or more flow meters 502 (not shown in FIG. 9),densimeters, thermometers, pressure transducers 504 (not shown in FIG.9), velocity sensors, volume sensors, and/or the like) that may beassociated with fluid delivery system 106. By way of further example andnot limitation, the at least one aspect of fluid delivery system 106 maycomprise a density, a flow rate, a pressure, a velocity, a temperature,a viscosity, a composition, and/or a volume of at least one fluidpassing through at least one portion of at least one component of fluiddelivery system 106; at least one operating condition of one or morecomponents of fluid delivery system 106 (e.g., a pressure, temperature,function speed, etc. being experienced by the component(s)); and/or anysimilar aspects of fluid delivery system 106 as may be apparent to thoseskilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein.

At step 906, computing device(s) 104 (not shown in FIG. 9) and/orcontrol station 108 (not shown in FIG. 9) convert or interpret measured,sensed, and/or detected data from sensing device(s) 210 into informationin a form that may be useful to user 102 by performing one or morecalculations. By way of example and not limitation, sensing device(s)210 in the form of one or more densimeters may providedetected/measured/sensed density information to determine a pressure forthe fluid(s) within at least one portion of at least one component offluid delivery system 106, while sensing device(s) 210 in the form ofone or more flow meters 502 may provide detected/measured/sensed fluidflow data to determine an operating efficiency for one or morecomponents of fluid delivery system 106 such as, by way of example andnot limitation, pumping mechanism(s) 206 (not shown in FIG. 9) (e.g., byusing measured/sensed/detected fluid flow data with data regarding thesize and operating rate of pumping mechanism(s) 206) (or, in someaspects, to determine an operating efficiency for fluid delivery system106 as a whole). Other similar conversions and/or calculations may beperformed to obtain other useful data as may be apparent to thoseskilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. Insome aspects, the data obtained from sensing device(s) 210 may be usefulto user 102 without any conversion or interpretation. In such aspectsstep 906 may be skipped

At step 908, system 100 presents information regarding at least oneaspect of fluid delivery system 106 to at least one user 102 (not shownin FIG. 9). By way of example and not limitation, such information maybe displayed via at least one graphical user interface upon one or moredisplay screens or monitors associated (either directly or indirectly)with computing device(s) 104 and/or control station(s) 108communicatively coupled (either via wireless media (such as, for exampleand not limitation, to enable user 102 interaction with sensingdevice(s) 210 from one or more remote locations) or via wiredconnectivity) to one or more sensing devices 210, or via one or moredisplay screens, monitors, gauges, meters, and/or similar devices ormechanisms as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s)after reading the description herein that may be associated (eitherdirectly or indirectly) with a given sensing device 210. The displayedinformation may comprise, by way of example and not limitation, a flowrate, density, composition, temperature, viscosity, pressure, velocity,and/or volume of the fluid(s) passing through one or more portions ofone or more components of fluid delivery system 106; an operatingefficiency of one or more components of fluid delivery system 106; anoperating condition of one or more components of fluid delivery system106 (e.g., a pressure, temperature, function speed, etc. beingexperienced by the component(s)); and/or any similar data or informationas may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after readingthe description herein. By way of further example and not limitation,the data or information presented to user(s) 102 may also compriselocation and/or component information. For instance, in some nonlimitingexemplary embodiments, the presented information may indicate to user(s)102 where within fluid delivery system 106 a given flow rate measurementwas taken or which component(s) of fluid delivery system 106 areexperiencing a particular pressure level.

In some aspects, step 908 may be skipped.

At step 910, system 100 compares at least one aspect of fluid deliverysystem 106 to at least one predetermined standard or value via computingdevice(s) 104 and/or control station(s) 108. In some nonlimitingexemplary embodiments, the at least one predetermined standard or valuemay be stored in and retrieved from, by way of example and notlimitation, fluid delivery system database 128. By way of example andnot limitation, the at least one predetermined standard or value maycomprise a preferred and/or optimal density, composition, temperature,viscosity, flow rate, pressure, velocity, and/or volume of at least onefluid passing through at least one portion of at least one component offluid delivery system 106 and/or a preferred and/or optimal operatingefficiency and/or operating condition(s) of one or more components offluid delivery system 106 as determined by user(s) 102, computingdevice(s) 104, control station(s) 108, and/or a manufacturer of fluiddelivery system 106 or one or more components thereof; or the at leastone predetermined standard or value may comprise a range of preferredand/or optimal densities, compositions, temperatures, viscosities, flowrates, pressures, velocities, and/or volumes of at least one fluidpassing through at least one portion of at least one component of fluiddelivery system 106 and/or a range of preferred and/or optimal operatingefficiencies and/or operating conditions of one or more components offluid delivery system 106 as determined by user(s) 102, computingdevice(s) 104, control station(s) 108, and/or a manufacturer of fluiddelivery system 106 or one or more components thereof.

In some aspects, the at least one predetermined standard or value maycomprise aspect(s) of fluid delivery system 106 that must correspond toother aspect(s) thereof. By way of example and not limitation, in orderfor a given pumping mechanism 206 to function appropriately, it mayrequire a fluid suction flow rate within a certain range of thedischarge rate of fluid(s) from that pumping mechanism 206. If theserates are found to be outside of a predetermined acceptable range, thenuser 102, computing device(s) 104 and/or control station(s) 108 mayalter and/or request one or more changes to the flow of fluid(s) fromfluid source(s) 202.

At step 912, system 100 determines whether any changes or adjustmentsneed to be made to any aspect(s) of fluid delivery system 106, includingany component(s) thereof via, for example and not limitation, computingdevice(s) 104 and/or control station(s) 108. By way of example and notlimitation, the determination may be made at least partially based onwhether system 100 determines, via mathematical and/or computationalanalysis, that fluid delivery system 106 and/or one or more componentsthereof is operating less efficiently and/or effectively than it couldbe and/or that continuing the operation of fluid delivery system 106 maycause damage to one or more components thereof. Additionally, thedetermination may be at least partially based upon whether at least oneaspect of fluid delivery system 106 is not within a tolerable deviationof the at least one predetermined standard or value referenced duringthe comparison performed at step 910 and therefore requires at least onechange or adjustment. If the determination is in the affirmative,process 900 proceeds to step 914; if the determination is negative,process 900 proceeds to step 916.

At step 914, system 100 initiates at least one adjustment to at leastone aspect of fluid delivery system 106 via computing device(s) 104and/or control station(s) 108. By way of example and not limitation, theat least one adjustment to the at least one aspect of fluid deliverysystem 106 may comprise an adjustment to the flow rate, density,composition, pressure, temperature, viscosity, velocity, and/or volumeof the fluid(s) within at least one portion of at least one componentfluid delivery system 106, thereby facilitating the resolution of one ormore problems or issues being experienced by fluid delivery system 106or any component(s) thereof and/or minimizing or avoiding damagethereto. Other types of adjustments may be made to other aspects offluid delivery system 106 as may be apparent to those skilled in therelevant art(s) after reading the description herein, includingadjusting one or more operating parameters of one or more components offluid delivery system 106 (e.g., a speed of operation, a mode offunction, etc.). In order to instigate any adjustment(s) to theaspect(s) of fluid delivery system 106 that are determined to benecessary or desirable, computing device(s) 104 and/or controlstation(s) 108 may control the manipulation of one or more mechanisms ordevices associated with fluid delivery system 106, including but notlimited to one or more air actuators 406 (not shown in FIG. 9),discharge valves, suction valves, inlet valves, outlet valves,high-pressure valves, and other valves, as well as any similarappropriate fluid flow control mechanisms or devices as may be apparentto those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the descriptionherein.

At step 916 process 900 is terminated and process 900 ends.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a block diagram of an exemplary computingsystem 1000 useful for implementing one or more aspects of the presentdisclosure is shown.

FIG. 10 sets forth illustrative computing functionality 1000 that may beused to implement web server(s) 122, application server(s) 124, one ormore gateways 110-120, user database 126, fluid delivery system database128, control station database 130, computing devices 104 utilized byuser(s) 102 to access Internet 132, control station 108 to facilitateinteraction between a given fluid delivery system 106 and user(s) 102,or any other component of system 100. In all cases, computingfunctionality 1000 represents one or more physical and tangibleprocessing mechanisms.

Computing functionality 1000 may comprise volatile and non-volatilememory, such as RAM 1002 and ROM 1004, as well as one or more processingdevices 1006 (e.g., one or more central processing units (CPUs), one ormore graphical processing units (GPUs), and the like). Computingfunctionality 1000 also optionally comprises various media devices 1008,such as a hard disk module, an optical disk module, and so forth.Computing functionality 1000 may perform various operations identifiedwhen the processing device(s) 1006 execute(s) instructions that aremaintained by memory (e.g., RAM 1002, ROM 1004, and the like).

More generally, instructions and other information may be stored on anycomputer readable medium 1010, including, but not limited to, staticmemory storage devices, magnetic storage devices, and optical storagedevices. The term “computer readable medium” also encompasses pluralstorage devices. In all cases, computer readable medium 1010 representssome form of physical and tangible entity. By way of example and notlimitation, computer readable medium 1010 may comprise “computer storagemedia” and “communications media.”

“Computer storage media” comprises volatile and non-volatile, removableand non-removable media implemented in any method or technology forstorage of information, such as computer readable instructions, datastructures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage media maybe, for example, and not limitation, RAM 1002, ROM 1004, EEPROM, Flashmemory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD)or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magneticdisk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other mediumwhich can be used to store the desired information and which can beaccessed by a computer.

“Communication media” typically comprise computer readable instructions,data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated datasignal, such as carrier wave or other transport mechanism. Communicationmedia may also comprise any information delivery media. The term“modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of itscharacteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode informationin the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communicationmedia comprises wired media such as wired network or direct-wiredconnection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and otherwireless media. Combinations of any of the above are also includedwithin the scope of computer readable medium.

Computing functionality 1000 may also comprise an input/output module1012 for receiving various inputs (via input modules 1014), and forproviding various outputs (via one or more output modules). Oneparticular output module mechanism may be a presentation module 1016 andan associated GUI 1018. Computing functionality 1000 may also includeone or more network interfaces 1020 for exchanging data with otherdevices via one or more communication conduits 1022. In some aspects,one or more communication buses 1024 communicatively couple theabove-described components together.

Communication conduit(s) 1022 may be implemented in any manner (e.g., bya local area network, a wide area network (e.g., the Internet), and thelike, or any combination thereof). Communication conduit(s) 1022 mayinclude any combination of hardwired links, wireless links, routers,gateway functionality, name servers, and the like, governed by anyprotocol or combination of protocols.

Alternatively, or in addition, any of the functions described herein maybe performed, at least in part, by one or more hardware logiccomponents. For example, without limitation, illustrative types ofhardware logic components that may be used include Field-programmableGate Arrays (FPGAs), Application-specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs),Application-specific Standard Products (ASSPs), System-on-a-chip systems(SOCs), Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs), and the like.

The terms “module” and “component” as used herein generally representsoftware, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof. In the case ofa software implementation, the module or component represents programcode that performs specified tasks when executed on one or moreprocessors. The program code may be stored in one or more computerreadable memory devices, as described with reference to FIG. 10. Thefeatures of the present disclosure described herein areplatform-independent, meaning the techniques can be implemented on avariety of commercial computing platforms having a variety of processors(e.g., desktop, laptop, notebook, tablet computer, personal digitalassistant (PDA), mobile telephone, smart telephone, gaming console, andthe like).

In view of the above, a non-transitory processor readable storage mediumis provided. The storage medium comprises an executable computer programproduct which further comprises a computer software code that, whenexecuted on a processor, causes the processor to perform certain stepsor processes. Such steps may include, but are not limited to, causingthe processor to detect at least one aspect of at least one fluiddelivery system 106, present at least one aspect of the at least onefluid delivery system 106 to at least one user 102, and receive at leastone input from the at least one user 102, wherein the at least one inputis configured to make at least one adjustment to at least one aspect ofthe at least one fluid delivery system 106. Such steps may also include,without limitation, causing the processor to present at least one aspectof at least one fluid delivery system 106 to at least one user 102;compare at least one aspect of the at least one fluid delivery system106 to at least one predetermined standard or value; determine whetherat least one aspect of the at least one fluid delivery system 106 iswithin a tolerable deviation of the at least one predetermined standardor value, and if the at least one aspect of the at least one fluiddelivery system 106 is not within a tolerable deviation of the at leastone predetermined standard or value, initiate at least one adjustment tothe at least one aspect of the at least one fluid delivery system 106.

It is noted that the order of the steps of processes 600-900, includingthe starting points thereof, may be altered without departing from thescope of the present disclosure, as will be appreciated by those skilledin the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein.

While various aspects of the present disclosure have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled inthe relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure. Thus, the present disclosure should not be limited by any ofthe above described exemplary aspects, but should be defined only inaccordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

In addition, it should be understood that the figures in theattachments, which highlight the structure, methodology, functionalityand advantages of the present disclosure, are presented for examplepurposes only. The present disclosure is sufficiently flexible andconfigurable, such that it may be implemented in ways other than thatshown in the accompanying figures (e.g., utilization with differentfluids; utilization of different system components; implementationwithin computing devices, environments, and methods other than thosementioned herein). As will be appreciated by those skilled in therelevant art(s) after reading the description herein, certain featuresfrom different aspects of the systems, methods, and computer programproducts of the present disclosure may be combined to form yet newaspects of the present disclosure.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally and especially thescientists, engineers and practitioners in the relevant art(s) who arenot familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determinequickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of thistechnical disclosure. The Abstract is not intended to be limiting as tothe scope of the present disclosure in any way.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fluid delivery system configured to transfer anamount of at least one fluid to at least one fluid destination, thefluid delivery system comprising: at least one fluid source; at leastone section of piping configured to at least partially contain theamount of the at least one fluid; at least one pumping mechanism; and atleast one sensing device configured to detect at least one aspect of thefluid delivery system.
 2. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, whereinthe fluid delivery system further comprises: at least one manifoldapparatus.
 3. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein the at leastone fluid comprises at least one of: water, slickwater, produced water,saltwater, brine, at least one petroleum product, at least one chemical,at least one gel, at least one acid, methanol, at least one crosslinker,liquefied natural gas, pipeline quality natural gas, propane, and atleast one biofuel.
 4. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein thefluid delivery system further comprises: at least one additive source.5. The fluid delivery system of claim 4, wherein the fluid deliverysystem further comprises at least one blending apparatus configured tocombine at least one portion of the amount of the at least one fluidfrom the at least one fluid source with an amount of at least oneadditive from the at least one additive source.
 6. The fluid deliverysystem of claim 5, wherein the at least one additive comprises at leastone of: at least one chemical, at least one proppant, at least one acid,at least one friction reducer, at least one disinfectant, at least onebreaker, at least one emulsifier, at least one stabilizer, at least onesurfactant, at least one oxygen scavenger, at least one scale inhibitor,at least one pH adjusting agent, at least one corrosion inhibitor, atleast one biocide, and at least one gelling agent.
 7. The fluid deliverysystem of claim 1, wherein the at least one pumping mechanism comprisesa pressure pump.
 8. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein the atleast one sensing device comprises at least one of: a flow meter, adensimeter, a thermometer, a pressure transducer, a velocity sensor, anda volume sensor.
 9. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein thefluid delivery system further comprises at least one computing devicecommunicatively coupled to the at least one sensing device.
 10. Thefluid delivery system of claim 1, wherein the at least one aspect of thefluid delivery system comprises at least one of: a density of the amountof the at least one fluid, a flow rate of the amount of the at least onefluid, a pressure of the amount of the at least one fluid, a velocity ofthe amount of the at least one fluid, a volume of the amount of the atleast one fluid, a temperature of the amount of the at least one fluid,a viscosity of the amount of the at least one fluid, a composition ofthe amount of the at least one fluid; an operating efficiency of atleast one component of the fluid delivery system; and an operatingcondition of the at least one component of the fluid delivery system.11. A method for identifying at least one issue associated with a fluiddelivery system, wherein the fluid delivery system is configured totransfer an amount of at least one fluid to at least one fluiddestination, wherein the fluid delivery system comprises: at least onefluid source, at least one section of piping configured to at leastpartially contain the amount of the at least one fluid, at least onepumping mechanism, and at least one sensing device configured to detectat least one aspect of the fluid delivery system, the method comprising:detecting at least one aspect of the fluid delivery system using the atleast one sensing device; and presenting the at least one aspect of thefluid delivery system to at least one user.
 12. The method of claim 11,wherein the method further comprises: receiving at least one input fromthe at least one user, wherein the at least one input is configured tomake at least one adjustment to the at least one aspect of the fluiddelivery system.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the fluid deliverysystem further comprises: at least one manifold apparatus.
 14. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the fluid delivery system further comprises:at least one additive source.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein thefluid delivery system further comprises at least one blending apparatusconfigured to combine at least one portion of the amount of the at leastone fluid from the at least one fluid source with an amount of at leastone additive from the at least one additive source.
 16. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the at least one sensing device comprises at least oneof: a flow meter, a densimeter, a thermometer, a pressure transducer, avelocity sensor, and a volume sensor.
 17. The method of claim 11,wherein the at least one aspect of the fluid delivery system comprisesat least one of: a density of the amount of the at least one fluid, aflow rate of the amount of the at least one fluid, a pressure of theamount of the at least one fluid, a velocity of the amount of the atleast one fluid, a volume of the amount of the at least one fluid, atemperature of the amount of the at least one fluid, a viscosity of theamount of the at least one fluid, a composition of the amount of the atleast one fluid; an operating efficiency of at least one component ofthe fluid delivery system; and an operating condition of the at leastone component of the fluid delivery system.
 18. The method of claim 11,wherein the fluid delivery system further comprises at least onecomputing device communicatively coupled to the at least one sensingdevice.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method furthercomprises: comparing, via the at least one computing device, the atleast one aspect of the fluid delivery system to at least onepredetermined standard.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the methodfurther comprises: determining, via the at least one computing device,whether the at least one aspect of the fluid delivery system is within atolerable deviation of the at least one predetermined standard; andinitiating, via the at least one computing device, at least oneadjustment to the at least one aspect of the fluid delivery system.